Stress & Adaptation Flashcards
Examples of physiologic stressors
Chemical agents Physical agents Infectious agents Nutritional imbalances Hypoxia Genetic/immune disorders
Examples of psychosocial stressors
Accidents Stressful/traumatic experiences Horrors of history Fear of aggression/mutilation Historical events via media Rapid global changes
Local adaptation syndrome
Localized response (specific body part (i.e. tissue, organ) of the body to stress
Stress = traumatic or pathologic
Two types of local adaptation syndrome
Reflex pain response and inflammatory response
Steps of General response to stress
Alarm reaction
Stage of resistance
Stage of exhaustion
Alarm reaction
Person perceives stressor, defense mechanism activate
Fight-or-flight response
Hormone levels rise, body preps to react
Shock & counter-shock phases
Stage of resistance
Body attempts to adapt to stressor
VS, hormone levels, and NRG production return to normal
Body regains homeostasis or adaptive mechanisms fail
Stage of exhaustion
Results when adaptive mechanisms are exhausted
Body either rests and mobilizes its defenses to return to normal or dies
Emotional responses to stress
Mind-body interaction
Coping mechanisms
Anxiety (most common)
mild, moderate, severe, panic
Coping mechanisms
Behaviors used to decrease stress and anxiety
Crying, laughing, sleeping, cursing Physical activity, exercise Smoking, drinking Lack of eye contact, withdrawal Limiting relationships to those with similar values & interests
Defense mechanisms
Protect a person’s self-esteem and useful in mild to moderate anxiety
Compensation Denial Displacement Introjection Projection Rationalization Regression Repression Sublimation Undoing
Effects of long-term stress
Physical status
Increases risk for disease/injury
Compromises recovery & return to normal fxn
Associated with specific diseases
Stress management techniques
Relaxation Meditation Anticipatory guidance Guided imagery Biofeedback Crisis intervention
Mild anxiety
Present in day-to-day living; increases alertness and perceptual fields and motivates learning & growth
Manifested by restlessness and increased questioning
Moderate anxiety
Focus is on immediate concerns, inattention to other communications and details
Manifested by a quavering voice, tremors, increased muscle tension, “butterflies” with slight increases in respirations & pulse
Severe anxiety
Creates a very narrow focus on specific details, causing all behavior to be geared toward getting relief
Impaired learning ability and easily distracted
Extreme fear of a danger that isn’t real, interferes with everyday life & avoiding situations that cause anxiety
Panic
Causes the person to lose control and experience dread and terror
Increased physical activity, distorted perception of events, and loss of rational thought
Manifested by difficulty communicating verbally, agitation, trembling, poor motor control, sensory changes, sweating tachycardia
Unable to learn, concentrates on present situation, feelings of impending doom
Anticipatory guidance
Focuses on psychologically preparing a person for an unfamiliar or painful
